1.
AIR VIEW.ROBBEN ISLAND
0.07

2.
CLOSER AIR VIEW. DITTO
0.16

3.
CLOSER AIR VIEW. DITTO
0.25

4.
CLOSER AIR VIEW. COASTLINE AND SURF
0.29

5.
LONG AIR VIEW. ROBBEN ISLAND
0.38

6.
LONG AIR VIEW. ISLAND, TABLE MOUNTAIN IN B/G
0.41

7.
AIR VIEW.TABLE MOUNTAIN AND CAPETOWN
0.45



Initials AA/S/MR/JG



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: NELSON MANDELA AND SIX OF THE SEVEN OTHER MEN GIVEN LIFE SENTENCES IN PRETORIA LAST WEEK ARE NOW SERVING THEIR SENTENCES ON THE ROBBEN ISLAND PENAL COLONY. THE EIGHT MAN SIMILARLY SENTENCED, DENNIS GOLDBERG, HAS NOT BEEN SENT TO THE ISLAND AS ONLY NON-WHITE PRISONERS ARE DETAINED THERE.

ROBBEN ISLAND, SEVEN MILES (11 KILOMETRES) FROM CAPETOWN IN TABLE BAY, IS THE "MAXIMUM SECURITY" PRISON OF SOUTH AFRICA. THE ICY WATER AND SWIRLING TIDES SURROUNDING THE ISLAND MAKE IT PRACTICALLY ESCAPE-PROOF.

RECENTLY THERE HAVE BEEN ALLEGATIONS OF MISTREATMENT BY WARDERS OF PRISONERS ON ROBBEN ISLAND AND QUESTIONS ARE TO BE PUT TO THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL ABOUT IT.

FORMERLY A LEPER COLONY, THE ISLAND BECAME A PRISON ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. THERE ARE NEARLY 1,400 PRISONERS ON THE ISLAND OF WHICH MORE THAN 900 ARE POLITICAL. AMONG THEM IS THE PAN-AFRICAN CONGRESS LEADER, ROBERT SOBUKWE, WHO LED THE DEMONSTRATIONS INVOLVING THE SHARPVILLE DEATHS. IT IS REPORTED THAT HE HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO STUDY ON THE ISLAND AND IS TO BE DETAINED THERE FOR ANOTHER YEAR.